The Clerk informed the House of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker.

Whereupon, Mr. Milliken (Kingston and the Islands), Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the Whole, took the chair, pursuant to subsection 43(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act.

PRAYERS

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration of Bill C-16, An Act respecting Canadian citizenship.

Mr. Cauchon (Minister of National Revenue) for Ms. Caplan (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), seconded by Ms. Fry (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

Debate arose thereon.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

ORAL QUESTIONS

Pursuant to Standing Order 30(5), the House proceeded to Oral Questions.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Tabling of Documents

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mrs. Stewart (Minister of Human Resources Development) laid upon the Table, -- Document entitled "Terms and Conditions: Transitional Jobs Fund". -- Sessional Paper No. 8525-362-6.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mrs. Stewart (Minister of Human Resources Development) laid upon the Table, -- Document entitled "Terms and Conditions: Canada Jobs Fund". -- Sessional Paper No. 8525-362-7.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mrs. Stewart (Minister of Human Resources Development) laid upon the Table, -- Average Unemployment Rates for the Employment Insurance Economic Regions. -- Sessional Paper No. 8525-362-8.

By unanimous consent, Ms. Debien (Laval East) laid upon the Table, -- Copy of an article dated Friday, December 17, 1999, published by Le Devoir (French text only). -- Sessional Paper No. 8530-362-8.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Benoit (Lakeland), seconded by Mr. Hilstrom (Selkirk -- Interlake), Bill C-433, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (search and seizure without warrant), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Presenting Petitions

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were presented as follows:

-- by Mr. Goldring (Edmonton East), one concerning the official languages of Canada (No. 362-0621) and nine concerning veterans' affairs (Nos. 362-0622 to 362-0630);

-- by Ms. Guay (Laurentides), two concerning the labelling of food products (Nos. 362-0631 and 362-0632);

-- by Mr. Maloney (Erie -- Lincoln), one concerning pornography (No. 362-0633);

-- by Mr. Stinson (Okanagan -- Shuswap), one concerning pornography (No. 362-0634) and one concerning the highway system (No. 362- 0635);

-- by Ms. Picard (Drummond), one concerning the labelling of food products (No. 362-0636);

-- by Mr. Rocheleau (Trois-Rivières), five concerning the labelling of food products (Nos. 362-0637 to 362-0641);

-- by Mr. Benoit (Lakeland), one concerning immigration (No. 362- 0642) and one concerning the tax system (No. 362-0643);

-- by Mrs. Tremblay (Rimouski -- Mitis), one concerning the labelling of food products (No. 362-0644);

-- by Mr. Marceau (Charlesbourg), one concerning the Canada Post Corporation (No. 362-0645);

-- by Ms. Gagnon (Québec), one concerning the labelling of food products (No. 362-0646).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the third reading of Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Municipal Grants Act.

Mr. Collenette (Minister of Transport) for Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Public Works and Government Services), seconded by Ms. Fry (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.

Debate arose thereon.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 1:30 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. MacKay (Pictou -- Antigonish -- Guysborough), seconded by Mr. Bernier (Tobique -- Mactaquac), moved, -- That, in the opinion of this House, the Criminal Code or other appropriate federal statutes should be amended in accordance with Recommendation 73 of the Province of Nova Scotia's Public Inquiry into the Westray disaster, specifically with the goal of ensuring that corporate executives and directors are held properly accountable for workplace safety. (Private Members' Business M-79)

Debate arose thereon.

NOTICE OF MOTION

Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) gave notice of the intention to move a motion at the next sitting of the House, pursuant to Standing Order 78(3), for the purpose of allotting a specified number of days or hours for the consideration and disposal of the second reading of Bill C-23, An Act to modernize the Statutes of Canada in relation to benefits and obligations.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. MacKay (Pictou -- Antigonish -- Guysborough), seconded by Mr. Bernier (Tobique -- Mactaquac), -- That, in the opinion of this House, the Criminal Code or other appropriate federal statutes should be amended in accordance with Recommendation 73 of the Province of Nova Scotia's Public Inquiry into the Westray disaster, specifically with the goal of ensuring that corporate executives and directors are held properly accountable for workplace safety. (Private Members' Business M-79)

The debate continued.

Pursuant to Standing Order 93, the Order was dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the Order Paper.

RETURNS AND REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), papers deposited with the Clerk of the House were laid upon the Table as follows:

-- by Ms. Copps (Minister of Canadian Heritage) -- Amendments to the Management Plan for Banff National Park, dated 1998, pursuant to the Act to amend the National Parks Act and to amend An Act to amend the National Parks Act, S. C. 1988, ch. 48, sbs. 5(1.1). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-362-566-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage)

-- by Mr. Dhaliwal (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans) -- Report of the operations under the Fisheries Development Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999, pursuant to the Fisheries Development Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-21, s. 10. -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-362- 292-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans)

ADJOURNMENT

At 2:30 p.m., the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).